Rulers
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Kings of Denmark (936 .. 1513)
High Middle Ages
| From Date |
Ruler | Relationship to Predecessor | To Date |
Comments |
| 936 | Gorm the Old | 958 | Gorm the Old is concidered to be the first King of Denmark. | |
| 958 | Harald Bluetooth | Son | 986 | Harald Bluetooth was king of both Denmark and Norway and was the first king to introduce Christianity to the countries. |
| 986 | Sweyn I Fork-beard | Son | 1014 | Sweyn repeatedly raided the coast of England for treasure. He overthrew his father Harald and later invaded England and became its King. |
| 1014 | Harold II | Son | 1018 | Became King of Denmark after his father Sweyn died. |
| 1019 | Canute II The Great | Brother | 1035 | King of England from 1016 and King of Denmark from 1018. |
| 1035 | Harthacnut | Son | 1042 | Became King of Denmark in 1035 and King of England in 1040 after the death of his half-brother Harold Harefoot. He lost control of Norway to Magnus. |
| 1042 | Magnus I of Norway | - | 1047 | Magnus had become King of Norway in 1035 before taking control of Denmark after the death of Harthacnut. He died suddenly in 1047. |
| 1047 | Sweyn II Estridsen | Grandson of Sweyn Fork-beard | 1074 | Sweyn had many children and was succeeded by several of his sons. |
| 1074 | Harold III Hén | Son | 1080 | |
| 1080 | Canute the Saint | Brother | 1086 | Canute supported the expansion of the Church in Denmark. His attempt to invade England was opposed by his court. Canute was murdered during a revolt. |
| 1086 | Oluf I Hunger | Brother | 1095 | Severe famine appears to dominate the reign of Oluf and thought to be a curse for the murder of Canute. Oluf may have blamed himself for the disaster and took his own life. |
| 1095 | Eric I Ejegod | Brother | 1104 | |
| 1104 | Nicholas I (Niels) | 1134 | ||
| 1134 | Eric II Emune | 1137 | ||
| 1137 | Eric III | 1146 | ||
| 1146 | Sweyn III Grathe and Canute V | 1157 | ||
| 1157 | Waldemar I | 1182 | ||
| 1182 | Canute VI | 1202 | ||
| 1202 | Waldemar II | 1241 | ||
| 1241 | Eric IV | 1250 | ||
| 1250 | Abel | 1252 | ||
| 1252 | Christopher I | 1259 | ||
| 1259 | Eric V | 1286 | ||
| 1286 | Eric VI | 1319 |
Kings 936 - 1319
Name:
Gorm the Old
Reign:
936 to 958
Gorm the Old is concidered to be the first King of Denmark.
Name:
Reign:
958 to 986
Harald Bluetooth was king of both Denmark and Norway and was the first king to introduce Christianity to the countries.
Name:
Reign:
986 to 1014
Sweyn repeatedly raided the coast of England for treasure. He overthrew his father Harald and later invaded England and became its King.
Name:
Reign:
1014 to 1018
Became King of Denmark after his father Sweyn died.
Name:
Reign:
1019 to 1035
King of England from 1016 and King of Denmark from 1018.
Name:
Reign:
1035 to 1042
Became King of Denmark in 1035 and King of England in 1040 after the death of his half-brother Harold Harefoot. He lost control of Norway to Magnus.
Name:
Reign:
1042 to 1047
Magnus had become King of Norway in 1035 before taking control of Denmark after the death of Harthacnut. He died suddenly in 1047.
Name:
Sweyn II Estridsen
Reign:
1047 to 1074
Sweyn had many children and was succeeded by several of his sons.
Name:
Harold III Hén
Reign:
1074 to 1080
Name:
Canute the Saint
Reign:
1080 to 1086
Canute supported the expansion of the Church in Denmark. His attempt to invade England was opposed by his court. Canute was murdered during a revolt.
Name:
Oluf I Hunger
Reign:
1086 to 1095
Severe famine appears to dominate the reign of Oluf and thought to be a curse for the murder of Canute. Oluf may have blamed himself for the disaster and took his own life.
Name:
Eric I Ejegod
Reign:
1095 to 1104
Name:
Nicholas I (Niels)
Reign:
1104 to 1134
Name:
Eric II Emune
Reign:
1134 to 1137
Name:
Eric III
Reign:
1137 to 1146
Name:
Sweyn III Grathe and Canute V
Reign:
1146 to 1157
Name:
Waldemar I
Reign:
1157 to 1182
Name:
Canute VI
Reign:
1182 to 1202
Name:
Waldemar II
Reign:
1202 to 1241
Name:
Eric IV
Reign:
1241 to 1250
Name:
Abel
Reign:
1250 to 1252
Name:
Christopher I
Reign:
1252 to 1259
Name:
Eric V
Reign:
1259 to 1286
Name:
Eric VI
Reign:
1286 to 1319
Late Middle Ages
| From Date |
Ruler | Relationship to Predecessor | To Date |
Comments |
| 1320 | Christopher II | 1326 | ||
| 1329 | Christopher II (again) | 1332 | ||
| 1332 | (Interregnum) | 1340 | ||
| 1340 | Waldemar IV | 1375 | ||
| 1375 | (Interregnum) | 1376 | ||
| 1376 | Olaf V | 1387 | ||
| 1387 | Margaret (Regent) | 1412 | ||
| 1397 | Eric VII | 1439 | ||
| 1440 | Christopher III | 1448 | ||
| 1448 | Christian I | 1481 | ||
| 1481 | John I | 1513 | ||
| 1513 | Christian II | Son | 1523 | Christian was crowned king of Denmark and Norway, but was not popular. When his enforced marriage to Isabella of Austia ended with her death he refused to end a relationship with his mistress. Christian avenged her murder and made her mother his adviser. This led to him being deposed. |
Kings 1320 - 1513
Name:
Christopher II
Reign:
1320 to 1326
Name:
Christopher II (again)
Reign:
1329 to 1332
Name:
(Interregnum II)
Reign:
1332 to 1340
Name:
Waldemar IV
Reign:
1340 to 1375
Name:
(Interregnum)
Reign:
1375 to 1376
Name:
Olaf V
Reign:
1376 to 1387
Name:
Margaret (Regent)
Reign:
1387 to 1412
Name:
Eric VII
Reign:
1397 to 1439
Name:
Christopher III
Reign:
1440 to 1448
Name:
Christian I
Reign:
1448 to 1481
Name:
John I
Reign:
1481 to 1513
Name:
Christian II
Reign:
1513 to 1523
Christian was crowned king of Denmark and Norway, but was not popular. When his enforced marriage to Isabella of Austia ended with her death he refused to end a relationship with his mistress. Christian avenged her murder and made her mother his adviser. This led to him being deposed.